The party of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his allies announced Tuesday afternoon that they would form a coalition government, ending the uncertainty since last week when no party won a simple majority in parliamentary elections.
The development comes hours after the parties, all rivals of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently in prison, met in Islamabad.
The meeting was attended by former President Asif Ali Zardari’s Pakistan Peoples Party and Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim League, including Sharif’s younger brother Shehbaz Sharif, who replaced Khan when he was removed by a no-confidence motion in parliament in 2022.
After a press conference with Zardari and other politicians, Shebaz Sharif did not say who will be the joint elected official for the post of prime minister, although the consensus view is that Sharif will head the new government. In his brief remarks, Sharif said talks on a coalition were successful.
“We have decided to form the government jointly,” Zardari said.
Marriyum Aurangzeb, spokesman for the Pakistan Muslim League, said the elder Sharif, a three-time prime minister, had nominated his younger brother for the prime minister’s post.
The Pakistan Muslim League has been in talks with Zardari and other allies since Tuesday’s election to the National Assembly, or lower house of parliament.
According to Pakistan’s constitution, Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi will convene the inaugural session of the National Assembly by Feb. 29 so that lawmakers can take office. Subsequently, the parliament will elect the new prime minister.